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      "Either we change global capitalist society or it annihilates the world's peoples and nature itself."


      Speech by Bolivian President Evo Morales to the UN Climate Change Conference. December 10, 2014.

      Introduction by Thomas Davies


      Below is an excerpt of Bolivian President Evo Morales’ speech to the UN Climate Change Conference (“COP 20”) held in Lima, Peru from December 1 to 14, 2014 . He spoke as Bolivia’s President, but also on behalf of the “G77+ China” group of nations, which Bolivia chaired in 2014.

      President Morales continued to build on Bolivia’s important leadership in the fight to save mother earth. He denounced the endless cycle of high profile climate meetings which have accomplished nothing more than excellent photo opportunities while the issue of climate change, and the fundamental question of the survival of the humanity, goes unanswered. “We have to get at the fundamental roots of the problem of climate change. We don’t want more protocols; we want more structural solutions, overcoming capitalism, saving the peoples of the world.... What is the use of reducing gas and toxic emissions by 1 or 2 degrees if the next generation will end up baking in suffocating heat?”

      This position has been strengthened by ALBA (the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America), an coalition of countries founded by Cuba and Venezuela in 2004 as a direct alternative to the now dead FTAA (Free Trade Agreement of the Americas) the US government was attempting to shove down the throats of Latin-America countries. ALBA has now grown to 13 member nations and represents an inspiring example of creating concrete alternatives and agreements based on solidarity, cooperation and social justice.

      ALBA and Morales also went one better. The day after the UN Climate Change Conference ended in Lima, ALBA member states announced in their meeting’s final declaration that they will be organizing an alternative global climate summit in 2015.

      Morales stated, “Stopping climate change cannot be left to those who profit from the destruction of nature. That is why we the peoples must directly accept our own responsibility for the continuation of life and society by taking control of governments, and using that power to pressure and force government and businesses alike to take drastic and immediate measures to stop us from falling into this abyss of nature’s destruction.”

      These words and actions are important and necessary for everyone concerned about the survival of the environment and humanity, especially in a country like Canada where the government has demonstrated no regard for either. On the issue of self-determination of indigenous nations, the Canadian government has also demonstrated time and time again its disregard and disrespect for these fundamental rights, as it tries to help ram resource extraction projects through despite clear opposition from indigenous nations.

      Recent struggles, such as the sustained mobilizations on Burnaby Mountain against Kinder Morgan, (the largest “energy infrastructure” company in North America)’s attempt to carry out drilling work with the objective of building another pipeline, have shown that environmental issues are once again becoming “hot button” issues with broad sections of people . Over 100 people were arrested during the demonstrations, only to have those arrests finally thrown out under public scrutiny and worldwide media attention.

      President Morales talks the talk, walks the walk, and connects all the dots which must be connected to understand the cause and effects of climate change. It is this kind of analysis and audacity with shows the way forward. We are neither alarmists or extremists for pointing out the current climate crisis and demanding solutions. The following words are vital to that international struggle to save, and build, a better world.

      “Sisters and brothers of COP20, we sometimes debate in this class of conferences only the effects, and not the origin, of global warming. We have had more than 30 years of pretence, futile negotiations with no result....

      Today we find ourselves on the threshold of the destruction of Mother Earth, faced with the disappearance of the human species. The developed countries of the North, responsible for the destruction of nature, have brought us to a barren land to legitimize their supposed commitment to humanity. We, the developing countries, have served as a source of legitimation for a unilateral and sterile dialogue.

      We have served as a pretext for the powerful to continue doing the same thing, which has settled into a simulacrum of dialogue and deliberation. There is in this entire staging of environmentalism a great deal of hypocrisy, racism and neocolonialism.

      Climate change has become once again the safety valve to avoid discussing substantive questions like the voracious model of capitalist development that is putting an end to humanity.... We are losing time because the dialogue is not between equals; it is an unsuccessful monologue....

      We must now say to you, nothing has changed in those 30 years....

      On behalf of my people, I can only say that we feel betrayed once again faced with this simulacrum of international agreements that are never enough. Our peoples are tired of all this deception, they are tired of suffering the increase in temperature, the melting of our mountain snow caps, of the heavy rains, the cruel flooding and the heartbreaking droughts, which each time make us poorer.

      We have to get at the fundamental roots of the problem of climate change. We don’t want more protocols; we want more structural solutions, overcoming capitalism, saving the peoples of the world.... What is the use of reducing gas and toxic emissions by 1 or 2 degrees if the next generation will end up baking in suffocating heat?

      Basically the problem is the supposedly civilizing model that is based on a greedy financial architecture in which wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few, producing poverty for the majority of humanity.

      I want to tell you, sisters and brothers, that unless we change the centre of gravity of all the financial, economic, political, ecological and social distortions confronting our century and the planet, the search for a consensual agreement will be nothing more than a chimera.

      A second root of the problem of climate change is the war politics of the great powers and the huge budget devoted to it. With only a fifth of the money spent on the military by the five major military powers of the world we would be able to resolve 50 percent of our environmental problems....

      And the third root of climate changehas to do with the exaggerated industrialization, disproportionate consumption and pillaging of resources that could alleviate the major ills of humanity. The economic model upholding the financial architecture and war politics has as its nucleus the politics of the free market, that is, the voracious capitalist policy that pays no attention to anything other than profit, luxury, and consumerism.... People are treated as things, and Mother Earth as a commodity.

      Proposals to preserve the Life of Humanity and of Mother Earth

      What are we doing now? Governments and businesses of the major world powers responsible for the climate catastrophe have shown they are unable to slow down this planetary tragedy that is jeopardizing humanity and nature as a whole. Their power and profits are fueled by the irreparable destruction of the environment....

      Stopping climate change cannot be left to those who profit from the destruction of nature. That is why we the peoples must directly accept our own responsibility for the continuation of life and society by taking control of governments, and using that power to pressure and force government and businesses alike to take drastic and immediate measures to stop us from falling into this abyss of nature's destruction.

      To defend our life and the existence of future generations it is absolutely necessary that the world’s peoples, the hard-working society suffering daily the effects of climate change, take control of states, politics, the economy and use it to preserve humanity and the planet....

      We have to put the brakes to capitalist accumulation, the endless accumulation of commodities. We need another civilization, another society, another mentality, other values, another culture that prioritizes the satisfaction of human needs, not profit, that believes in human beings and Mother Nature, not the “money god.”...

      Either we change global capitalist society or it annihilates the world’s peoples and nature itself.

      The environment is a common heritage of all the peoples of the world, of the ancient peoples, of the present peoples and the peoples who are to come....

      The environment is a common resource.... And that is why it must be administered by us as a community. Nature itself is a community, since it benefits everyone and affects everyone. Our ancient indigenous peoples knew this and that is why they lived as a community. ...

      Sisters and brothers, community is the only way to live in equilibrium with nature. Community is salvation of the environment, of life, and accordingly of human beings. Community is life, capitalism is death. Community is harmony with Mother Earth and capitalism is destruction of Mother Earth.

      Finally, it is really important to consider how we are to create institutions to judge those who pollute our planet, who injure our Mother Earth. Humanity needs to create an International Tribunal of Climate Justice, so that justice may be done.

      Sisters and brothers, that in a nutshell is the experience that the indigenous peoples provide for the good of all humanity.

      Thank you very much.”

      Translation by Richard Fidler
      www.lifeonleft.blogspot.com





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